Match-box.



No. ss5,i4|. y l rmnted 1an. maar..

c. f, lsrmvlan.

MATQl-I BOX. (Application med um 24, um.)

(No Model.)

//S A TTORNEK TENT CHARLES F. SNOVER, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.'

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,141, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed January 24, 1900. Serial No. 2.667. (No model.)

To all whom it' Magnan/cern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SNovER, a citizen of the United States, residingl at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iu Match-Boxes; and Ido hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention pertains to match-boxes, and more particularly to pocket match-boxes arranged to ignite the matches as they are withdrawn from the box.

The improvements consist in certain coustructions and arrangements of the parts of a match-box, whereby I accomplish the objects of my invention, which are, first, to produce a box of compact form in which the matches may be arranged and held in rows of diierent heights, so that a single match may be extracted without disturbing the others and be automatically ignited by being withdrawn from the box, and, second, to produce a box having separable sides adapted to receive rows of matches and having means for holding the rows of matches at dierent heights, so as to be readily accessible, and provided also with a yielding igniting-surface arranged in the upper part of the box for lighting the match as it is withdrawn.

Myinvention is illustrated in the accompan ying drawings throughout the several views, of which similarletters and characters of reference designate corresponding parts and devices.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View of my improved match-box with the cover removed, showing two rows of matches in position. Fig. 2 is an end view of the box, the relative positions of the two rows of matches being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 8 shows the box open for the insertion 'of matches. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the opened box. Fig. 5 is a detail of the hinge-pivot and cover-locking spring. Fig. 6 is a view of the spring-plate that carries the igniting-surface. Fig. 7 is a section of one of the sides, showing a preferable arrangement of the bottom hinges.

The body of the box is formed by assem bling the parts shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, as indicated in Fig. 1.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the box consists of two sides a and a', pivotally connected at their bottom ends by passing a hinge wire b through suitable loops or hinge members c, attached to the sides. Between the loops c a loop d is inserted. This loop is secured to the lower'end of a sheet of metal or other suitable material e, carryinga rough igniting-surface f, which springs outward toward the side of the box. In practice I prefer to employ two such sheets as is shown in Fig. 3 and 4, fastening them together at their lower parts by solder' or otherwise. Suitable catches g g', of any usual or convenient form, are provided on the hinged covers to hold them together when closed. The lid of the box h is preferably hinged to one of the sides o. and is held in its closed position by outwardly-projecting catches i, formed in the upper end of the hinge-pivot wires b b. The catches are released by pressing the spring members b inwardly. For this purpose projections b2 are formed below the catches y and arranged to project slightly through the box, as is shown in Figs. l and 2.

When the box is opened, as in Fig. 4, a row of matches is placed on each of the sides a. and a'. When the sides are closed together, the spring-sheets e e hold them in position, and the abrasive surface f, which may be of emery or other suitable material, ignites thev match when it is drawn out of the box.

To permit one match to be withdrawn Without disturbing the others, I arrange the rows one above the other, as in Fig. l. To accomplish this", I provide a shelf or false bottom kin one of the sides of the box. The shelf holds one of the rows of matches above the other row and permits ot' removing all of the upper row Without interfering with the lower row.

To keep the upper ends of the matches in alinement and also to add to the ornamental appearance of the box, I prefer to corrugate or indent a strip along the sides of the box near the top, as is shown in Figs. 1 and et.

By the above-described construction I produce a match-box that can be cheaply manufactured, lights the matches automatically, is

IOO

easily filled, and permits of extracting a single match Without disarranging or spilling the other matches.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a match box comprising outwardlypressing spring-plates extending the breadth ofthe box and pivoted thereto and having abrasive surfaces near their upper ends, with separable covers for containing matches oppositely arranged on each side of said spring'- plates and a lid pivoted to the upper end of one cover; the combination of hinge members formed on the lower end of each cover/the hinge members of one cover registering with those of the other; a hinge member formed on thelower edge of the spring-plates and registering with the hinge members on the covers; hinge-Wires inserted through all the hinge members and bent upwardly at the edge ol' the boX, their upwardly-projecting ends forming springs and having catches for engaging the lid, projections formed below the Catches and extending slightlythrough the box whereby the catches may be released to open the lid; all arranged substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. SNOVIJR.

Witnesses:

WM. STEPHENS, W. NICHOLSON. 

